Hot Trend 04
Enjoy Spanish Fiesta, Hotter than the Summer,
Redder than the Sun!

When you think of summer, you tend to think of the sun! When you think of the sun, you think: Spain! If you want to fill your body and soul with burning passion, head for Spain this summer. Hot festivals, not to mention the scorching sunshine, are waiting for you.

San Fermin: A mix of raw passion and excitement

San Fermin is one of the traditional festivals in Spain well-known for its bull run.
It starts at noon on July 6, with the setting off of a rocket called ‘Chupinazo,’ followed by “Viva San Fermin!,” the shout of people who are all dressed in white shirts and red neckerchiefs. The festival is held from July 6 to 14 every year in the city of Pamplona, the northern part of Spain, in honor of Saint Fermin, the patron saint of the city. It was first held sometime during the 13th century to eventually become a regular festival by around the 16th century.


The official name for the bull run we know is Encierro. Encierro lasts from the second day of the festival, July 7 until 16, starting at 8 in the morning each day with the sound of gunfire. About 16 bulls start running down the streets and as many as 1000 people also run while avoiding the bulls to get to the bullring. The event is concluded after they run through an approximately 800 m stretch of streets from the corral to the bullring which takes around just 3 minutes. It is quite short but it attracts people all the more to this energetic Spanish event.


On the last day of the passionate festival that lasts nine days, the participants sing a song in the square with a candle in their hands. The song is called ‘Pobre de Mi,’ meaning ‘Poor me, poor me, for the fiesta of San Fermin has come to a close.’ It shows how much Spanish people love this festival. The mayor of Pamplona city closes the festival with participants removing their red neckerchief.



Paint it red, LA TOMATINA!

La Tomatina is one of the most exhilarating festivals in the world, held just once a year, only for one hour.
To enjoy this, people from all over the world come to the small village of Bunol in Spain on the last Wednesday of August. The event they look forward to most is ‘tomato throwing.’ Starting at 11 in the morning The moment a piece of ham at the top of a greased pole is fetched, a cannon is fired at the top of city hall signaling the beginning of the tomato fight. Tomatoes are poured out of the trucks parked at the square, and people start throwing them at each other. Before long, the square turns into red with screams of exuberance echoing all over the streets.


La Tomatina, which began in the mid-1940s, was approved by the city council as an official festival of the region. The guidelines for safety and hygiene put in place then are as follows. Remember and follow the guidance for a safe and fun festival for other participants and yourself.

- Squash tomatoes before throwing
- Do not use harmful objects such as glass bottles
- Do not pull or tear clothes of others
- Wear goggles, gloves and shoes with a decent grip
- Give way to the tomato trucks and the fire trucks that come in at the end of the event


The tomato throwing ends with the sound of a cannon signaling the end of the festival. After the event, the fire trucks enter to clean the square and streets. The ground becomes clean quickly thanks to the acidity of the tomatoes.


Tips to enjoy the festival even more
- Wear old clothes that you are not going to wear later.
- Wear shoes that can protect your arch.
- Leave your bag in your room.
- Keep your cell phone in a waterproof case. (It’s best not to bring it at all!)
Red handkerchief for passion, and healthy red tomatoes! Red everywhere in the festival makes it even more Spanish.



Would you like to get rid of the daily stresses of life and rekindle the passion hidden inside you? Then, visit Spain during its festival season. You’ll be able to experience powerful energy that you’ve never imagined.